Neuroimaging Effects of Acupuncture in Parkinson’s Disease: A Scoping Review

Objectives: The aim of this study is to review and analyze the neuroimaging effects of acupuncture treatment in patients with Parkinson’s disease.Methods: A comprehensive search of international databases was conducted to identify clinical neuroimaging studies related to acupuncture in Parkinson’s disease on May 2025.Results: A total of 17 studies were retrieved. The commonly acupoint used was GB34, along with others like the Chorea-Tremor Control Area, GB20, LI4, LR3, and KI3. Acupuncture induced functional changes in motor-related brain regions (precentral gyrus, putamen, thalamus, cerebellum, substantia nigra), suggesting improved motor control via the basal ganglia and cerebello-cortical pathways. It also affected cognitive and emotional networks, enhancing activity in regions like the prefrontal cortex, DMN, amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex and insula. Additionally, increased activation was observed in sensory-related regions such as the occipital lobe and supramarginal gyrus, indicating acupuncture’s broader involvement in sensory processing as well. Functional connectivity analyses and imaging techniques such as susceptibility weighted imaging and quantitative susceptibility mapping revealed structural and biochemical changes.Conclusions: There was ignificant heterogeneity in sample size, treatment protocols, imaging techniques, and analysis tools. Many studies lacked randomization or clear control groups, making causal inference difficult due to the limited number of RCTs. Quantitative functional connectivity, network-level analyses, and safety reports were reported in only a few studies. Future research should prioritize standardized acupuncture protocols, well-designed large-scale RCTs with appropriate controls, expanded use of network-based analyses and systematic reporting of safety to enhance clinical applicability and reliability.